Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood
- Fasting: No special preparation required
- Turnaround: 3-5 business days. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.
What's Included
This test measures the amount of allergen-specific IgE antibodies to tomato in your blood. The single biomarker reported is F025-IgE Tomato.
IgE antibodies are produced by the immune system in response to substances it treats as harmful, and they trigger the release of histamine. The test does not measure other foods, other nightshades, or other antibody classes. A tomato-specific IgE result shows sensitization only. It does not confirm a clinical tomato allergy on its own.
Benefits
- Measures tomato-specific IgE antibodies in a blood sample.
- Requires no special preparation before your blood draw.
- Adds lab information to review alongside your symptoms and history.
- Gives your healthcare provider tomato-specific IgE data to discuss with you.
Who Is This Test For?
- People who notice hives, rash, or itching after eating tomatoes.
- People who experience tingling in the mouth or swelling of the lips after tomatoes.
- People with nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea after tomato-containing foods.
- People with coughing, wheezing, or sneezing after eating tomato-based sauces, salads, or drinks.
- People who want tomato-specific IgE results to discuss with their healthcare provider.
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. What does this test measure, and how is it different from other food allergy tests?
It measures allergen-specific IgE antibodies to tomato, reported as F025-IgE Tomato. Its scope is limited to that one food and one antibody class. It does not test other nightshades such as bell peppers, eggplant, chilis, or white potatoes, and it does not measure other foods or other antibody types. Results from other food allergy tests are not interchangeable with this one.
2. Who should consider this test, and when?
Symptoms after eating tomato can appear within minutes to hours of exposure, and they range from mild to severe. Some people react to raw tomatoes but tolerate cooked or processed ones. If you have noticed a pattern like this and want tomato-specific IgE information, this test may be worth discussing with your healthcare provider. It does not replace a medical evaluation.
3. Do I need to fast or prepare for this test?
No special preparation required.
4. How quickly will I get results?
Expect results in 3-5 business days. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.
5. How should I interpret my results, and what if they are abnormal?
A tomato-specific IgE result reflects the presence and amount of IgE antibodies to tomato in your blood. Interpretation depends on your symptoms, your history, and other clinical information. A result alone does not confirm or rule out a clinical allergy, predict how severe a reaction might be, or determine which foods are safe for you.
If your result is outside the reference range, review it with a qualified healthcare provider, who can advise on any next steps.
Disclaimer: Reference ranges may vary by laboratory. Listed ranges are general guidelines and may differ from those used by the performing lab. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.
Pre-test preparation
No special preparation required.
Cross-Reactivity
Cross-reactivity may occur when the immune system recognizes similar proteins in different foods, pollens, or other substances. This test measures only tomato-specific IgE and does not test for any of the items listed below. These examples are not exhaustive, and they are possible considerations rather than confirmed allergies. Depending on your history, symptoms, or your healthcare provider's guidance, testing for related allergens may be worth discussing.
- Grass pollen: People with grass pollen allergy may react to tomato through shared proteins such as profilins. This is part of pollen-food allergy syndrome.
- Japanese cedar pollen: Laboratory studies have found IgE cross-reactivity between cedar pollen and tomato extracts. Its clinical significance varies from person to person.
- Natural rubber latex: Tomato has been reported as a less common food linked to latex-fruit syndrome in some latex-allergic people.
- Peach and other fruits or nuts: Laboratory studies show IgE cross-reactivity between tomato and peach, and to a lesser degree hazelnut, chestnut, avocado, and melon.
- Potato:Laboratory studies have found IgE cross-reactivity between tomato, potato, and latex. In one study, patients still tolerated potatoes.
